Seal 'em and keep 'em cool

Keep them in a sealed bag or container in a cool, dark place.

Citronella candles lose their punch when the oil evaporates or gets contaminated. Heat is the main culprit—it speeds up evaporation. So don’t just toss them on a shelf in the garage that gets hot in summer. And definitely don’t leave them outside exposed to sun and temperature swings. Direct sunlight will degrade the oil too.

The second enemy is other smells. If you store an open candle next to a bag of charcoal or a can of paint, it’ll start smelling like that instead of citronella. A Ziploc bag or a plastic bin with a lid solves both problems: keeps air out, keeps light out.

If the candle is already in a glass jar with a lid, you’re mostly there—just make sure the lid is screwed on tight. If it’s a tiki torch fuel can, same deal. For naked pillar candles, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil before bagging them.

Your next barbecue will actually repel mosquitoes.